'The Impact of Environmental Conditions on Quality Control Procedures in Mammography' by Stamatia Papathanasiou

SPARC 2021 Poster No. 29Objective: Mammography is a technically demanding x-ray examination that requires the highest standard of image quality used for the early detection of breast cancer. Quality control (QC) ensures that the equipment in the diagnostic imaging process is functioning and maintained at the highest level. This research investigates the impact of different environmental conditions on these quality control procedures. Methods: 9 images from a test object were evaluated by participants under different environmental conditions including 3 different illumination levels (low, medium and high), white and gray wall colours and 2 different specifications of computer monitor (high and low technical characteristics). The participants identified the number of visible structures in all images and all environmental conditions; 12 conditions in total. The presence of reflections on the surface of the monitors were all also investigated for the 12 conditions. Results: Great variation in the number of visible structures in the different environmental conditions. A preference for gray wall colour, lower ambient light and a monitor with high specifications was identified. Furthermore, it was revealed that white wall colour increased the presence of reflections at the faceplate of the monitors. Conclusion: High ambient light and a white wall colour contributed to increased reflections on the surface of the monitors. This has a negative impact on the technical evaluation of images during QC procedures. This may lead to a detrimental impact on service delivery.